Ronald Melville ​
1920-1990
Ronald Melville went through many hardships and bettered many challenges.
He was captured by the Japanese as a prisoner of war at the Fall of Singapore and
came down with various diseases, including malaria and beriberi. He was at one of
the last Japanese slave camps and came close to death numerous times. He was at a
height of over six foot and came back from Japan weighing in at thirty kilogrammes.
He lived for many years onwards, but unfortunately died in January 1990 and is now buried at St. Peter's cemetery.
Ronald was imprisoned by the Japanese for three years, he witnessed death and torture at the hands of the Japanese, but as he grew older, he felt respect, and begun questioning the reasoning of war. This interview was eye opening about the atrocities committed during Second World War, particularly those war crimes committed by the Japanese. People like Ronald are exemplifying the ANZAC spirit; Bruce continues this ANZAC spirit and remembers the people like his father.
Reflection on interview with Bruce Melville on behalf of Ronald Melville by Amelia Melville
